Looking again at the pictures, they look much better on the trailer - their white is not so shiny white anymore (as in http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/a...-1024x768-.jpg), the connectors don't shine, the red line is a very nice touch (some of our hoses didn't had the longitudinal line, that's made of colored thread integral to the weaving of the outside fabric), the hoses show signs of "creasing" during rolling (the hoses have a significant rubber internal section, so they roll with straight sections and "corners"). And I love the "ribs" on the outside of the connectors, looking so real life.
Great work!

Hi calinous,
as you say in your second post, the colored hoses are those loaded on the trailer.
those very white are still not colored paper.
but I could not to reproduce the texture of the fabric.I tried it with paper towels but with the glue it all becomes too soft and very ugly looking.
I also tried to draw it.....but I did not like the result.
So I left them as they are!

They are looking very well as they are, as the trailer/toolbox/trailer is shiny enough to contrast against the firehoses and make them look .
Just an idea that will probably not work... you could sand them with sandpaper in a cross motion and blow household dust on them (if you lack household dust in your house, I can send you some )... but you'd end up with a cross patern and not the weave aspect.
Paper towels don't have the right "fabric look" neither...

First of all my compliments for the choice of the very interesting subject and for the progress of the model. A real master in action.
All details are more and more impressive.
I fully agree with calinous. Your fire hoses are perfect and you don't need to spend more time on that.
There can be however some materials that can be used in the future for similar details: the protective fabric used in the garden. They are of different types, light and quite strong.
I have 2 types, a heavy dark of 30 gr.m2 and a white of 17 gr.m2.
At present I'm involved in an urgent project and for me is impossible to find time for paper models. I hope the situation will soon change. But in that time I will follow with interest the progress of your amazing Ape.

Hello to all,
this evening i finished the fire hoses.
In the photos you see pieces of connectors, the tube made with a paper straw and the 10 complete fire hoses loaded on the trailer.
I seem to come good...What do you think?

no, ascolta, anche le manichette! ti odio!
I can't belive that!!! perfect firehoses and a good suggestion from Guglielmo.
anyway, for once a good and light texture would be another option, I think...

I agree with you. The material in the first picture is the most interesting.
I'm not satisfied with the color and I will try to find it in light shade. I suppose will possible to have it off-white or similar.
I have been using this fabric often in the garden but I don't know of what material is made. I suppose some synthetic composition, probably polypropylene.
I have very limited experience with models, I just started few months ago with my first card model, but I'm not against new materials.
I will made therefore some tests with glue and colors and try to find if it can be used for something.
Keep your good work.